Union County, Ohio - Chapter 32: City of Marysville and Paris Township, 1915

Chapter 32: City of Marysville and Paris Township

Marysville, the seat of justice for Union county, is located within the civil township of Paris, and before taking up the history of the city the attention is called to the general history of the township.

Paris township was organized by an act of the Union county commissioners, March 12, 1821, when its bounds were described as follows: "Beginning at the northeast corner of Darby, running west three and onehalf miles ; thence north to the north boundary of said county ; all west to the line of Union township to be known as Paris township." As thus created Paris comprised a large portion of Union county, but by the formation of new townships later its limits have been gradually contracted, until it now possesses little more territory than the average of the other thirteen townships in the county.

The only stream of note is Mill creek, which enters from the north, flows almost directly south to the center of the township, and, by an ever tortuous course, proceeds eastwardly to Dover township. The surface of land in Paris township is for the most part level, and the soil is of an excellent cla\' formation. The entire township was originally covered with a heavy forest, made up of many varieties, including sugar maple, hickory, oak, ash, beech, elm and walnut. A dozen or more excellent gravel roads gridiron the township, all leading to Marysville. Perhaps no better roads and more miles of the same can be seen in any single township within Ohio.

Pioneer Settlement

The Amiine settlement, made in 18 17 by Abraham Armine and his sons, was the first real settlement effected within Paris township. A few roving settlers or squatters may have been in before the Armines. Of the head of this Armine family, Abraham Armine, it may be said that he was born in Pennsylvania in 1761. His ancestors had emigrated from Switzerland about the beginning of the eighteenth centui^y. In 1785. Mr. Armine married .Mary Wolford and in 1801 removed to Belmont county, Ohio. In 1X17 lie ])mr]iase(l one thousand acres in Union county. He paid two dollars per acre for this large tract of land. The same year he remo\-e(l witli Iiis sons, Jolm, .Andrew, Moses, Frederick, Jercniiali and .\brahani, Jr., four of wlioni were married at tliat time and broiiglit their famihes with them.

Mr. Armine erected his log cabin on the hill west of the Newton pike, where the bend is made in the road. To each of his boys he gave one hundred acres, and the work of clearing up farms immediately commenced. They had few neighbors, but being a large family, they made quite a goodly colony by themselves. They were religious, frugal, and rugged in constitution, hence could cope with the wilderness and all that went to make up true pioneer life. Abraham Armine, Sr., died November 14, 1849, aged eighty-seven years. His wife died many years before his death. The family all grew with the country, and became important factors in their section of Union county. Perhaps no one family lived and labored more zealously than did this one. They were nearly all strong in the Methodist church faith, while in politics they were radical Whigs, the later members of the family being Republicans.

Hezekiah Bates, another settler of 181 7, was a blacksmith from New Jersey, who settled just north of Marys\-ille. After clearing up considerable land and following his trade, he finally sold and located in Madison county, Indiana, where he died.

It was about this date that John Donly of Belmont county, Ohio, came to Paris township. He settled on a part of the Armine tract, east of the creek : he lived man}- years and left se\'cral descendants in the township.

Another settlement was made on the site of ^Nlarvsville and near l)\', in 18x7-18, by Jonathan Summers and Nathan and Eli Lundy. They came here from Fayette county : none of them bought land, but Summers built a log cabin and cleared away a small patch of timber and in the oj^ening planted some corn on what is now a part of the city platting. He taught a term of school about three-fourths of a mile to the west of the center of the present city. After a few years he returned to Favette count\\ wliere he died.

In 1S19 came -Abraham Steiner. a Pennsx'hanian. He was b\' trade a cliith weaver. He lost his father when a mere bov and mox^ed to Chillicothe, Ohio, with Col. Ambrose Meeker, and li\ed with him until 18 u. Col. Meeker then enlisted for service in the War of 181 2 and Steiner mo\-ed to Aladisnn countv. Later Steiner heard that, bv clearing a hundred acres in Paris townsliip in Union county, the land would be given to him. He came here in }*Iarch, 1819, remained a week in a sugar camp and assisted in boiling sap. He then went on eastward a few miles to Dover township, and there took up his abode in the cabin of Stephen Dysard until the following June, when, aided by neighbors, he erected a cabin of his own on what was later the Hawley farm, two miles east of Marysville on the Dover pike. He remained there twelve years, clearing land and weaving cloth. Later, he moved to Clayton county, Iowa, where he died, aged eighty-four years.

At various points along Mill creek, cabins were erected and small clearings made by squatters, who held the land only temporarily. This was almost all the settlement for a number of years after the first few pioneers named came to Paris township. It is stated that these roaming squatters, hunters and trappers, were universally of the Democratic faith and in religion - well, that did not bother them much.

In the fall of 1819, Levin Gibson settled just northeast of Marysville. He was a \^irginian. He farmed all his life, but, strange to say. he never Liwned land of his own.

Joel Hinkle, about 1818, brought a drove of hogs from Clark county to range along ]\Iill creek. He built a cabin on the Robinson place, northeast of Marysville, and remained about one year. Then Elijah Hollowa_\- took possession of the caljiii, remained' a few months, but tired of the country, he went to Ross county. The cabin was next occupied by Lemuel Godfrey, who after a brief sojourn, left for Iowa. William Shelpman settled in 18 19 on Mill creek and died there. John Streets lived for a while in the bend of the creek just north of Marysville. Sampson Hubbel lived from 1820 for a few years, two and a half miles west of Marysville. Joseph Bell built a cabin on the Robert Belt farm, northeast of ^larysville. George Cline, from Madison county, settled about 182 1 on the Daniel Longbrake farm. The place was called "Cline's Bottoms" for many years. When the land was finally sold to an actual settler, he moved to Madison county. A Methodist preacher, James Brad.ley, came from Ross county in 1819 and occupied an old squatter's cabin in the eastern part of the township, but never purchased land.

In survey \o. 4,074. in 18 18, John Barker settled, three or four miles nortlnvest from Marysville. He was from Virginia. Later, he sold one hundred acres north of Mill creek to Samuel Westlake and removed to the Armine tract.

Another highly respected citizen was Jonathan Brooks. He owned no land in this township, but resided in the Armine settlement. He was an earnest Methodist church worker.

George Westlake, a native of Maryland, came here from Belmont county, Ohio, in 182 1. He was well advanced in life at the date of his coming and was the father of a large family of sons and daughters. Both he and his estimable wife were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and both attained an extreme old age.

lohn and George Howser were among the first settlers in Paris township. Thev were brothers and emigrated from Licking cijunty, and located on survev Xo. 5.138, north of the Armine settlement. After a number of years they removed to Hardin county and purchased land on which the town of Kenton now stands.

Lemuel, Joseph and William Wilmuth. three brothers, emigrated from Ross county. Ohio, to Paris township, either in 1820 or 1821, settling on ]\lill creek, northeast of Marysxille. \Villiam farmed, but owned no land here. His wife was Susan Carr and she bore him a large family.

Adam Wolford settled north of ^larysville in 182 1 at a point where the countv fair grounds are now located. He was a carijenter, and died here in 1863, aged sixty-five years.

Tobias Bigler arrived in Paris townshii) in 1S25. He was a native of Berks county, Pennsyh'ania, born in 1805, of German i)arentage. In 1809 he emigrated to Licking county. Ohio. He Ixjught one hundred acres of land northwest of Marysville when it was all heavily covered with timber.

.A settler in 1828 was John Elliott, bom in ^Maryland, who had resided in Belmont and Adams counties. Ohio, before coming here. Soon after coming- here he bought two hundred acres in the northwest part of Paris township, where he ended his days. Li early life he was a very zealous ]\Iethodist, but later was one of tlie prime movers in the organization of the United Brethren church. Politically, he was a Democrat. He was twice married and had a large family.

Others early pioneers were James Richey, John Sovereign, Coats Thornton. William Wells and William Voust. This completes the list of as many earlv settlers as can now be traced out. There were no doubt a few others.

The Block House

The only fort Union county ever had was the block house erected on the Powers place, in survey No. 5,736, in 1812, by the settlers in the southern part of what is now Union county and those over in Madison, as a defense against threatened invasions by the Indians from the north. It stood east of Edward Powers residence, near the west bank of Mill creek. The block house was made of hewn logs, and its dimensions were about fifteen by twenty-four feet. It was two stories in height, and on all sides there were port-holes about four inches square. For about two weeks after this means of defense was hastily constructed, it was strongly garrisoned by settlers from below, as it was expected that the Indian attack would be made by the way of the Indian trail on which the building stood. Soon a report reached the garrison that the savages were to come in from the south, and the occupants of the little improvised fort left it and returned to their defenseless families. No hostile Indians, however, ever appeared in this vicinity. The block house was afterward used as a dwelling.

The first election held in Paris township was for the selection of a justice of the peace, September 29, 1821. Thirteen votes were cast, of which William Wilmuth received nine and Mathias Collins four. From that day to this the two dominant parties have been the Democratic and Republican, usually about equally divided, tliough more generally the Republicans have been successful.

In 1910 the United States census gave Paris township, outside the city of Marysville, a population of 1,112. Combined with the cit\' the population was placed at 4,688.

Whatever might have been the appearance of this part of Union county in 18 1 9, when the place was platted as a village, when all was natural forest, it is certain today that there are but few prettier town sites within the bounds of the commonwealth than Marvs\-ille. Its well paved streets, its thousands of broad and spreading shade trees, its miles of cement and stone sidewalks, its tine churches and magnificent school buildings, its courthouse, city buildings, private residences and substantial business houses, one and all ]3roclaim Marys\'ille to be a modern municipality, peopled by a prosperous and contented populace, whose loyalty to county, state and nation has been well attested on many a hard fought battlefield more than a half century ago. The windings of pretty Mill creek are seen through the northern part of the city, and several bridges, including one of pioneer type - the old covered bridge northwest of the city proper - furnish easy access to the busy streets. In 1910 it had a population of 3,576, which is now increased materially. Its streets are well lighted by electricity, and the railroad and shipijing facilities are good, for here (ine finds the busy \-ards of three railmads - the Big I-"our, the Toledo & Ohio Central and the St. Mary's branch of the latter named system.

The Beginning

The original plat of Marys ville was executed August 10, 1819, nearly ninety-six years ago. Union was then included in Delaware county, and a transcript from the records of the last named county shows the following description of the place :

"Plat of the town of Marysville, which is situated on Mill creek, a branch (if the West fork of the Scioto river, in Delaware county, Ohio, which was surveyed and laid out, agreeable to the above plat, for Samuel W. Culbertson [the initial letter "W" was possibly by oversight, left out] Esq., proprietor of said town, as laid out to the cardinal points of the compass. The streets and alleys all at right angles ; the lots are five perches in front, or north and south, and eight perches back, east and west ; the lots contain one-fourth part of an acre each, except the fractional parts of lots which join the public square are less: the'streets are all four perches wide, except the two streets running north and south, one of which being on the east side of the public square and the other on the west side, are thirtythree feet wide each: the allevs are all sixteen and one-half feet wide each, all i)f which is full delineated on the above plat.

The lots in this plat were numbered from one to ninety-six; the public square was in the shape of a diamond. The' land included in this plat is a part of the Edward Dowse's survey No. 3,351, surveyed for him in 1798, by Nathaniel Massie, D.S., on certain military warrants held by Dowse. Stephen Thompson Mason, of Loudoun county, Virginia, purchased the warrants and received a patent from the United States government. May 7,

1800, for the whole survey, 1,087 acres, "situate lying and being between the Little Miami and Scioto rivers, northwest of the River Ohio." March 21,

1801, Mason sold it to Joseph Scott, of Philadelphia, for five shillings and the latter, on the 226. of September in the same year, disposed of it to Francis Bailey, of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, for the sum of $187. Bailey, who owned a printing establishment in Philadelphia, on the 15th of March, 1813, conve3'ed the land to Margaret Bailey, "a single woman," for one dollar. July 10, 181 7, Miss Bailey sold the west one-third part of her purchase to Samuel W. Culbertson, also for one dollar. By this Mr. Culbertson became the owner of what a subsequent survey proved to be four hundred and fifty acres of land. The landmarks were then trees as will be seen by tiie following description in his deed : "Beginning on the bank of Mill creek, in Delaware county, Ohio, above where the present road passes from Delaware to LTrbana, at two sugar trees and linn, the northeast comer Edward Dowse's survey, No. 3,351; thence seventy and one-half east 152 poles to a hickory, sugar tree and ash in the line of said Dowse's sur\-ey, at one-third of the whole distance - 456 poles ; thence south ten east 43O poles to a post in the south boundary of said Dowse's survey, crossing the creek at a hundred and eighty poles : thence south eighty west 152 poles with said south boundary to a large white oak and three sugar trees southwest corner to said Dowse's survey ; thence north ten west 436 poles along the west boundary of said Dowse's survey, crossing the creek to the beginning."

Culbertson resided at Zanesville, Ohio, June 28, 1820, his wife, Mary [all other places given as Nancy] Culljertson, granted him a power of at-- torney to convey for her the iijterest she owned in any lands in L'nion county which he wished to sell. July 25, 1822, power of attorney was granted to Silas G. Strong of Marysviiie, l5y Culbertson and wife, the sale of these lands being solely in Strong's hands.

The county seat having been fixed at Marys\'ille, David Comer was, on the lotli of July, 1820, appointed director of said town, with Thomas McDonald and George Harris as his bondsmen. On the day following it was ordered by the court, "That Da\'i(l Comer, the director of the town of Marys\-illc, ];e governed in his proceedings by the following rules, to-wit : That he select the grounds and lots: that he receive deeds for the county; that he sell the lots at public sale, giving first thirty days' notice in the neighborhood papers ; that he sell for one-tenth in hand and the balance in four equal annual payments; that he lay out the land in lots (either in or out-lots as the ground may best suit) ; that he make any alterations in laying out the town which Culbertson and himself may think expedient; that he take bond, with security, from purchasers. After the public sale he may sell at private sale, and clear off the ground before the sales and make such other improvements as may be advantageous to the county."

April 18, 1821, a plat of Marysville was placed on record in Union ciiunty. having a total of one hundred and forty-four lots; this was laid out by Mr. Comer, as director, the lots from ninety-eight to one hundred and forty-four, inclusive, having been donated by Mr. Culbertson for the use of the county. Idie space between Center and North streets, extending east the width <if one lot beyond Water street, was called "Military Square," which has since been laid out into lots.

]\Ir. and ]\Irs. Culbertson, upon the establishment of the seat of justice at j\larys\'ille, deeded to David Comer, in trust for the count\-, all of the e\'en numl)ered lots in the original plat and the twenty-four acres adjoining on the east in which were the forty-eight additional liits and the "Military Square." This deed was made December i6, 1820, in order that tlie commissioners nn'ght be enabled to erect public buildings at Marvsville. The "^lilitary Square" was laid out June 29, 1825.

David Comer, director, resigned in 1824. and Stephen Mcl_.ain was appointed in his stead. Comer died in 1823. and his will was admitted to probate June 2-] of that year. Before his resignation, he liad sold \o\- Union county, the following lots in Marvsville :

It is generally believed by those best informed in the pioneer liistorv of Marysville that a Quaker, named Jonathan Summers, had the distinction of erecting the first cabin on the site of the town. The date of the raising of this mde abode was 1S16. After tlie town ]iad been platted tlie first settlers were Matthias Collins, Samuel Miller and John Leeper. George Snodgrass, the oldest living settler of Union county in 1882, was residing at Urbana, Ohio, and furnished the following as his best recollections of Marysville, as a young village. His words are these: "When I came to Marysville to li\e in February, 1824, there were but four families living on the town plat ; it was literally in the woods. Silas G. Strong had just moved in a new log house, just where the house of Judge Woods, deceased, now stands, opposite the jail, on land he had purchased at three dollars and fifty cents per acre. Daniel Miller, a brother-in-law of David Comer, lived in an old log cabin probably erected by a squatter. He had four children. He was a brickmaker by trade, and died here after a few years; his widow removed from the place. Matthias Collins was here when I came. He had two children. His wife died at an early date. Collins was a carpenter and built a little one-stoiy house on East Center street, just on the east side of the branch. Later Dr. Henderson owned the site. Collins got married in 1830, moved on a farm, lived a few years and died there. The fourth family was that of Stephen McLain. He was raised in Champaign county, Ohio, married in the fall of 1823, moved to Marysville, and was jailer, living in the jail when I went there in February, 1824. Those were the citizens of Marysville then.

"Between that date and the fall of 1827, two families located in the place - George Minturn and wife, from Champaign county, and Newton Hicks and wife. Minturn was a wheelwright by trade and had made little and big spinning wheels. People at that time made their own wearing apparel. Xewton Hicks was a tanner. I built the first two-story house, a frame building, to live in that was put up in Marysville. I think I am safe in saying that I taught the first school that had any scholars, in the corporation or town plat.

"T recollect David Comer distinctly. He was a man of considerable ability, and a gentleman. He was our captain ; I have mustered under him. He was elected commissioner of Union county at an early date. He owned a good farm three miles west of Milford, and died about 1830. [Another account says and proves it, that he died in 1825.] Some years after that his widow married Ralph Cherry. As regards Clark Provin, I can say but little. M\- recollection is that he was ajjpointed clerk of the courts until one cfnild be elected.

"Silas G. Strong was an Eastern man. He had a good education and was smart, shrewd and capable of filling any office in the count)^ or state.

Union Countv. Ohio

He came to Marysville soon after the organization of the county. He was of -the Presbyterian order. When I came to hve with him he was clerk of the courts, county and township recorder, justice of the peace and postmaster. He w^as a good surveyor, was agent for a good many tracts of land, and his having no family except his wife, was the reason I went to live with him; he wanted someone to assist him in his business. I was to stay with him three years. When I was not engaged for him, he was to educate me in his own house. He was to give me thirty-three doUars the fii-st year, sixty-six driUars the second and one hundred dollars the third year, and board me and do my washing. I was to furnish mv own clothing. I lived with iiini three years, then got married, rented his house, and kept tavern, Strong and his wife boarding with me. He always treated me well, never a cross word passed between us. During that time I taught school nine months, in one place, a mile and a half from Marvsville, at twelve dollars and fifty cents per month.

"Amos A. Williams was then siieritt of the county. He was a carpenter by trade. The business of iiis office did not keep him constantlv employed. He made me his deputy and left the entire l)usiness with me. I w^as then twenty years of age. He was elected to a second term, and I still remained with liini, making three years altogether, to the satisfaction of all concerned."

It is learned that Mr. Snodgrass was tiie S(3n of Robert Snodgrass, who came from Pennsyh-ania in 1800 and settled at Milford with five or si.x other families besides his people. The family mustered ten persons, of whom four were Ixirn in Union county. He was Ijorn June 8, 1805. The son who wrote the above reminiscence was one of the chain-men wlio was authorized to assist the surveyor to lay out the Marion and Xewton roads. In running tiie line from the south to the north part of tliis county, they passed but two or three cabins, one being in the valley of Boke"s creek, just north of Pharisburg, and another on Fulton creek. The latter was then occupied by Cyprian Lee.

About 1835, or possilily a few years later, Silas G. Strong changed his religious belief and with his wife went with the Shakers. After one year he became dissatisfied and returned to ]\larys\'ille. He then embraced the doctrine of the Second-Day Adventists. It was said of him by his near neighbors that he had his "ascension robe" ready on several occasions. At one time he took a man's cow and team of horses as balance payment on a farm. The man returned aftenvard and wanted the cow back, saying that his familv was nearlv starving. Strong told him it made no dift'erence - the i>eople would all be "called up" in a few days anyway - referring to the predicted end of the world. After a number of years Strong went to Nauvoo, Illinois, and there joined tlie Mormons, and there he died. As a religionist, he was a peculiar man, but outside of that he was an able, intelligent and highly upright citizen.

David Witter, the third sheriff of this county, was born in Pennsylvania in 1/86. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and participated in the battle at Oueenstown Heights, Canada. He settled on Darby Plains in 1S14, and improved a large farm. At the public sale of lots in Marysville, Air. Witter bought a number of lots, among others the lot on which the old American House later stood. He built that structure in 1829. It was one of the best hotels in this section of Ohio - Springfield, Delaware and Columbus, having none superior. He owned three hundred acres of land adjoining Marysville on the east. It is now immensely valuable, but he disposed of it before it had taken on much value. In 1840 Mr. Witter engaged in buying" hogs and cattle and sustained large losses. He sold out, paid his deljts, and in 1845 removed to Logan county, Illinois, where he had entered a thousand acres of land in 1835. He remained there until 1857, then sold and remo\'ed to Pike countv, Illinois, where he died in 1S57. He was thrice married and reared a large family.

Adam Wolford, Sr., came to Union county soon after his marriage in 182 1, and settled at Marysville on land near the present fair ground. He was a carpenter and did most of the wood work on the old courthouse.

Richard Bancroft, born in England in 1797, came to America when nineteen years of age and about 1822 located in Marysville, where he resided o\'er fiftv vears. He died in Iowa in 1880.

Thomas Snodgrass was born in this county anil spent most all his life in Marysville, dying in 1880, aged seventy-three years. He established the first Methodist Sunday school in the place. He connected himself with that church in 1828, became class leader, and led the singing until 1859. He was a man of great strength 0I character and highly beloved by all.

Cyprian Lee was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1792. Through an uncle's large estate, which Ik helped to settle after the uncle's death, he came into ])ossession of about twi.i thousand acres of land in Claibourne townslii]) ailing Fulton creek. He first visited Ohio in 1820, remained a time in Delaware, and in 1822 located on his land in this county. He sold a small tract of land to a man who agreed to aid liim in making settlement. The first work was to open up a roadway for al.xnit four miles through the dense timber, so that teams might cross to and from the land he possessed. The cabin was then reared of logs and a part of the land cleared for cultivation. But the exposure and work was too much for his strength, and in 1825 he moved to Marvsville and there kept hotel for a time. He never allowed any of the rough element to insult him or trespass on his rights, and many a man who thought he was a better man received a hard Hugging at this pioneer's hands. He was in no wise quarrelsome, but knew his rights and stood manfully for them. He ser\'ed as captain in the militia many years. He soon left the hotel business and embarked in merch;iiidising at Marys\-ille. He continued in trade and also with partners, until his death in 1854. He was county treasurer from 1845 to 1851; was also coroner and was elected mayor, but refused to serve. In religious faith, he was first a Christian, but later became a member of the Presbyterian church at iMarys\'ille. He was also president of the County Bible Societw

Other settlers at Marysville were Tobias Beightler, from h^airfield county, Ohio, who came in from that dainty in 1825, when t\vent\-iine \ears of age. According to his article in the Marvsville Tribune in 1880, when he arri\-ed here these were the onh- ones residing here, Matthias L'ollins. Thomas Collins, Eli Lundy, George H. Houser, Hezekiah Bates (a blacksmith, who had a shop where stands the Peoples Bank), Samuel Osborn (who had a small tannery which stood where the cit}' building now stands) and Silas G. Strong.

In 1829 came Charles L. AluUin, who died in 1882. He carried the first brick and mortar in the construction of the original courthouse. Cah'in ^\'inget came here in i82(> fnini Milford Center, ha\'ing arrived in Union county among the earliest immigrants. He conducted a hotel here for some years. In 183 1 this building and two others were burned by the hand of an incendiary. Suspects were arrested, fried and sent to the ])enitentiary - two white men and a colored man. Calvin W'inget died of niilk sickness in 1840. Squire William M. Winget was his son, and he li;id for years in his possession the original seal of Union county. It was made of brass and had upon its face the state coat of arms and tlie words "Common Pleas of the County of Union," and the date, 1820. The impressiou was made by placing its face over the instrument to be sealed and striking the back side with a hammer, and it showed manv a dent from the liea\'\- blows inflicted.

in 1868. He was a typical Methodist minister and had to do with the organization of several classes and churches in Union county, including Mt. Harmon, originally known as Dunn's Run church.

Other pioneer settlers of ]Marysville were Reuben L. Patridge, 1836; Rodney Picket, from North Carolina, 1837; Thomas Turner, of Maryland, 1838: Samuel A. Cherry, a tailor, 1839, later operated a hard wood shop and built machinery. William Steele, a young man reared in the family of Silas G. Strong, became postmaster after Mr. Strong. Dr. S. F. Kinney came in 1839 and died in 1872. William C. Malin, a harnessmaker came from Urbana, Ohio, in 1840, and operated a harness business and was sheriff of Union ccnmty irnm 1850 to 1854. Jacob Sheer, a Pennsylvanian, came in 1840 and lived in a log house where the Congregational church now stands.

Others whose names are familiar to the older citizens of Marysville were Samuel Johnson, 1840; Jacob Catro, a single man full of oddities; W. T. Brophy, a tailor, who came from jNIt. Vernon, Ohio, in 1841 ; John G. Zwerner, a resident of Marys\ille for forty years from about 1842. John Cassil, April, 1842, owned the printing establishment and conducted the early newspaper: he was associate judge of the common pleas court from 1839 to 1842: was a steadfast temperance worker; lost much property when the railroad was being constructed through this county ; died in Jasper county, Missouri, in 1869. James Kinkaid, a native of what is now West \'irginia, settled here in 1841 and married Hannah Cassil; was many years a leading merchant here; died in 1877. William M. Robinson, known as "Uncle Hilly," was one of the first to be born in Union county. His father settled on Darby Plains in 1808. He married Hannah F. Crawford and engaged in the dairy business, keeping five cows and produced butter and cheese, selling it from five to seven cents per pound. Fat hogs sold then in Marysville at from one to one cent and a half per pound; calves sold at seventy-five cents each when old enough to wean. Mr. Robinson held several county and township offices and wrote much fire insurance. He also was a railroad promoter in the pioneer days of railways, was mayor many terms in succession, and president of the Pioneer Association.

James and Samuel Robinson, from York county, Pennsylvania, visited Tennessee in the winter of 1 799- t 800, looking for desirable lands. They chanced to Lucas Sullivant, who told them of the Darby Plains country in Ohio fthLs county) and came on here and bought six hundred acres of land. The purchase was made in the name of Samuel Robinson, the elder brother, who stoppeil later at Columbus antl was married and settled on his lands in this county in 1808. He reared a large family, and finally died on his fann. The party, who came through in 1805. made the journe\- with a four-horse team, having to cut their road through the heavv timber in many places. Airs. James Robinson was the only woman in the immigrant party. Samuel and James had made their first trip on horseback. In the spring of 1806, a daughter was born to James Robinson and wife, and she became the wife of Ste]ilienson Curry, and the mother of Col. W. L. Curry.

Early T.Werns

The first ta\ern in Marysville was kept by Matthias Collins. It was in a log house on the north side of the pul)lic square, on the west side of Main street. His brother-in-law kept this house after he left it. Among the proprietors of the old American House were Charles Farnum. Norman Chipman and Bill Welsh. The old hotel sign stood near the center of the public square.

At the time Henry Kezartee was keeping the hotel known as the Continental, a blind man named James War, known as "Blind Jimmie," kept a tavern on the north side of the street, and it was running at least as early as 1837. It was a log house, weatherboarded, but more a liquor shop than a hotel. Ward was ne\-er known to be cheated in handling sih'er coin ; he would feel of and sometimes liite the coin to determine whether it was good or counterfeit.

In 1832, three years after the American House was erected, a man known as Robson L. Broome came to Marys\ille and engaged l)oanl at this hotel. He continued a guest of the hotel until his death in 1873. He had amassed ])roperty amounting to fifty tliousand d(illars. and after his death there was much litigatii^n concerning it. Broome was a nn-sterious character and was thought to ha\'e lived under se\eral assumed names before coming to Marysville. He was over eighty years of age at his death. The true story of his life was never fully established and there were manv claiming heirshi]) to his fortune.

In 1882 there died at Marysville, Col. Xoah Orr, the "I'nion County Giant," and his funeral was looked after by the Knights of Pvthias to which fraternity he belonged. He had a wide acquaintance and was highh' respected. When in fair flesh, he weighed 550 pounds, was perfecth" fomied and very handsome. He was as active as men weighing two hundred pounds. For a time he was exhil)ited in P. T. Barnum's New York imiseum, but later with the Lilliputian Company, in which he was employed as a contrast to the midgets. As active labor was impossible for him, he thus earned a good living in this way. He was also a member of the Masonic and Red I\Ien. His final illness was about three months' duration.

Coming down to a later date, it is found that a census was taken of Marysville in 1859 by Thomas Snodgrass and Smith Alexander. The enumeration showed a population of nine hundred and eighty-one, forty less than in the previous December.

In August, 1865, the town had six dry goods stores, one hardware, nine groceries, a mill, a woolen factoiy, and most of the trades and professions were well represented.

In August, 1877, while an exca\-ation was being made for the foundation of the city hall, the wnrkmen unearthed an old tan vat. Its existence there was a mystery until finally George Snodgrass, Sr., remembered that about fifty or fifty-one years before, a man named Kirkwood came to the place and made two or three vats with the view of entering into the tanningbusiness here. The overseers of the poor thought the man would become a charge on their hands, and wai'ned him to lea\'e the town. This so incensed him that he soon afterward became insane and his death soon occurreil. When the old vats were brought to light after the lapse of half a century, the planks in them were as sound as on the day they were sunk. An old well was also (lisco\-ered at the same time the \'ats were found, and it became necessary to turn an arch over it in the wall of the city hall foundation. There was also found an old cellar filled up with bricks and earth.

Municipal History

The early records are not now in existence, but from certain memoranda extant it is learned that Otway Curry was elected mavor of the incorporated village of Marysville, May 4, 1840, and it is believed that he was the first maj'or of the place. The limits of the corporation ha\'e from time to time been extended and enlarged. The earliest records obtainable at this date show the following entry: "The council of the town of Maiys- \ille met in the mayor's office. In the absence of William W. Steele, recorder, on motion, W. H. Frank was appointed secretary, pro tern. Members present, O. Curry, B. \\'elsh, Thomas Turner, James W. Evans, Jacob Bouser and William H. Frank. On motion, meeting was adjourned until Monday e\ening, October 5, 1846."

consideration, was that of purchasing a new burying ground, and removing the old one from the corporation ; also the matter of appointing, December 6, 1846. R. L. Broome and Samuel Ressler fire wardens for one year.

The present city nfficials are as follows: Mayor, A. H. Kollefrath; president, pro tem, J. H. Shoneberger; police judge, A. H. Kollefrath; attorney, J. H. Kinkade: clerk, L. J. Zwerner; treasurer, L. W. Hazen ; marshal, Fred Omerocl; night police, Charles Liggett; cemeter\' trustees, \\'. J. Conrad, J. C. Weidman, Charles Braun ; cit_\' engineer, Elvi Graham; street commissioner, Charles Melching; fire chief, George Singer; city hall janitor and assistant fire chief, Charles Schlegel ; second fire chief, William Orr; health ofiicer. Dr. P. D. Longbrake; sanitar\- ]iolice, Fred Omerod; coimcilmen, J. H. Shoneberger, V. A. Tlmmpson, William ]\1. Wolganiot, Frank Devine, Joe Bainer, John Auer and Frank Mader.

Idle cit\' had a funded indebtedness, January, 1915, of $211,150. Besides this the city was surety for indix'idual assessments against lot owners to the anioimt of $176,190. The city advances the money and the property owners, who haA'e pa\'ing and other impro\'enients, pav out at stated times (34^

Fire Department And Early Fires

The tirst recortl of any fire protection apparatus in Alarysville was in 1845, when a hook and ladder company was organized, but did not last long. On July 22, 1859, the town sustained the worst loss by fire in its histor}- to that date. The fine Cassil block was burned at a loss of $1,500. August 10, 1861, E. W'eller's pottery was burned a half mile south of town. July. 1865, a hand engine was purchased at Dayton for $1,200. A Mr. Hubbel was the first engineer. June 7, 1865, the county coinmissioners donateil fift}' dollars toward building an engine house and gave the use of the corner portion of the public square on which to erect the same. This building was not finished until the summer of 1866. It Avas a two-story brick structure. July 12. 1866, the Maiysville flouring mills were burned together with the saw mill - total loss $10,000.

^lav 3, 1879, '^ steam fire engine was purchased and placed in the cit^' building. It was tested and could easily throw a stream of water one hundred and thirty feet through two sets of hose, and do it within four minutes from the time the fire was started in the engine. In Jul}-, 188 1, horses were purchased for the department.

It may be of interest to know how the first fire company in the village of Marysville came to be formed. It was after a small fire Januan,' 22, 1845. causing a thousand-dollar loss. A meeting of the citizens was held at the courthouse the succeeding day and a company organized with Samuel Resler as captain ; Mains Wasson, first lieutenant : Abner Power, second lieutenant: J. S. Alexander, treasiu"er; \\'illiam C. Lawrence, secretarv. A contribution was raised for the use of the company and a petition was forwarded to tlie Legislature, praying for an act of incorporation.

The present fire department has direct water pressure, a hook and ladder and chemical engine, one team for the hook and ladder wagon and one horse fi)r the hose cart. The company is made up of the chief. George Singer; first assistant, Charles Schlegel ; second assistants, William Orr, John Landsdown, George Bniwn, William Ferris. Harrv Johnson, James Parr, Dick Alahon, Lee Orr, George Schlegel, Art Werst, William Brown, James Smith, W^illiam Christ, Nort Jordon, Gordon Beighler and Fred Lachenniaier. I'.ach member recei\-es (ine dollar and fifty cents for each fire attended.

Marvsville Cemetery

The first bun'ing' place at Alarys\'ille was situated on Xi)rtli Walnut street, on grounds partly (iccupietl In* the furniture factory of today. In March, 1848, six and one-eighth acres of land were purchased of the heirs of \y. C. ]\Ialin, lying on the Marinn road north of town. This tract was traded to Mr. Zwerner in the spring of iSf)^ for his lots adjoining the old cemeter}'. June 5, 1877, it was voted hy the citizens of AIarys\ille to raise a tax sufficient to procure grounds for a new cemetery. July 22. 1878, the city council voted to appropriate a tract of land, known as the Dynes land, a half mile west of the corporation, between the Newton and Bellefontaine roads, and to this was gi\en the name of Oakdale Cemetery. Thirtv-nine acres were platted inti:) lots and streets, with apiircjpriate driveways. It was first improved in 18S0, and dedicated June 17 that year. In 1907 it was carefully estimated that Oakdale Cemetery C(intained marble to the \alue of three-quarters of a million dollars. There were at that date two thousand two hundred and fifty-six graves and sixteen liundred monuments. \'. J. Payne had then been the faithful sexton for almost a quarter of a centuiy, with only one week's vacation during all these long years.

Manufacturing Enterprises

In the pioneer (la\-s there were sex'eral small factories in the village for hand-made articles, such as spinning wheels, tanning leather, tailoring and other common domestic shops. Among the largest factories of an early da}- was the ]\Iarysville Pearlash Factoiy, established in 1848-49 l)y Judge W. W. Woods, wdio for }"ears had as his partner Darius Buxton, 'idiis ashery was one of the most extensive in the United States - was actually so reported by the government in 1874. After the death of Judge \\^oods it was abandoned.

The first steam grist mill in Marysville was erected in 1856 by J. & B. Saxton and G. A. Cassil. For years this enterprise hatl l)een discussed in the weeklv papers of the place, and its building was a source of great joyto the people. It commenced to griml flmn- on June i, 1857, and was then under Saxt()n & INIcCreight. .\fter operating successfully a number of \-ears, it was burned. In the autumn of 1867, '^ ''"^'^^' flouring mill was erected by Miller & Snodgrass. It was thirty-two by thirty-six feet and two stories in height. In 1866 there was erected a steam mill (^wned by W. L. Miller, later by ibises Thompson. Tliis had four burrs with a daily cajiac- ity of about thirty-five barrels. In 1882 a more nearly modern flouring mill was erected by Sprague & Perfect near the north end of Main street ; its capacity was one hundred barrels daily. In 1900 the large mill and elexator of the Shields-Wilber Company were first ojjerated in this city.

In the winter of 1850-51, a steam saw mill was erected by Joseph Pa.xton in the northeastern part of town. In September, 1876, there was an iron bridge constructed over the waters of Mill creek, north of town.

"In 1824 there were only four families in the village, and from 1824 to 1828 there were only three families added. This was a strangely slow beginning of the nucleus from which has grown our lively little city. But this may be accounted for by the contention that was going on to make Milford the permanent county seat. The village then, and for several years afterwards, did not cover over an acre or two of grountl at farthest, and lots were offered as low as five dollars without finding a purchaser. The fi\-e dollars was as diffcult to obtain then as a hundred dollars are now. Very little that was produced on the few new fanns that were being opened could be sold at ready cash at any price. But the pioneers, nevertheless, li\'ed happily, for e\'erything in the way of food and chjthing was i)roduced by the famil}' and such a thing as idleness was unknown. The old citizens still lix'ing, who began life in their wilderness home fifty years ago in this section of countr\', can \-ery \-i\i(lly trace the outlines by which a wilderness is changed into a cultivated and populous country." - From Marysville Tribune in 1878.

The old, well-remembered Continental Hotel, on the corner of Fifth and Plum streets, was burned on the night of October 8, 1913, and a man who was the guest of the place lost his life - a Mr. Manuel. The walls were condemned and torn down, and so far nothing has taken its place. 'I'his h(.)tel stood for over a half century.

In the spring of 1866, there was built a brewery in Marysx'ille, but in September, 1878, the tubs and \-ats were removed to Indiana. On September, 188 1, tlie l)uilding was badl}- scorched by fire, but it was repaired, refitted and in 1882 was in use and conducted by P. Schlegel. With the agitation for temperance and the centralizing of the brewing business in the country, it went out of business.

h"or many years the manufacture of woolen goods was carried on in Marysville at different locations, and finally in 1864, Woodbury & Welsh built a brick factor}' in the northeast part of town. It was later purchased b\- Robinson & Robinson, and continued a number of years with success.

Twenty-five hands were employed. Jeans and satinets, as well as a line of flannels, were manufactured. The business output was about thirt\- thousand dollars annually. The firm also conducted a store ojjposite the factor}'. Later, the proprietors were owners of the well-kntnvn '"r'actury Store" on South Main street. In the spring of 1880. the factory was sold to Turpie Brothers, of White Cdunty, Indiana, and it soon went out <A business in Marysville.

The Marysville Cheese Manufacturing Company was organized in the early spring of 1871. Among the prominent stockholders were W. W. Woods, W. M. Randall, Col. Robb, R. T. McAllister, John Ryan, Jehu Fleck and A. J. Sterling. The stock was four thousand dollars, di\ided into shares of a hundred dollars each. The company purchased an acre of ground south of the fair grounds, and in the spring of 1871 erected their factor)-. J. H. Ryan was chosen manager. It was not many weeks Ijefore the factory was turning out ten cheese daily, weighing thirty pounds each. In May, 1872, it was using three thousand three hundred pounds of milk each day, from which three hundred and sixty pounds of cheese were made daily. In 1873 the plant was sold by the sherifT, the highest bidder being J. \\\ Robinson wIk.i bid two thousantl fi\e hundred dollars. It was run until about 1876, when tlie Ijuilding was sold to Judge Woods for seven hundred dollars. In 1878 a new factory was built in the east part of the tiiwn, but it only lasted a few years.

In the spring of 1872, a carriage factory was built on South Main street b}' Conrad & Schepper. It was a large frame structure, and in 1876 a large brick front addition was made to the works. In 1878 it was C(>nducted b}' Conrad & Boerger. Fifteen men were then employed, and fmni twelve to fifteen thousand dollars worth of carriages were annuall\- sold. They also made farm wagons, sleds, etc.

Another carriage factory was establislied l)y Bauer, Schepper & Devinc in i88j. The}' employed tweh'e hands, and made about the same line of vehicles as was made by the o"ld factory.

In 1875 a planing mill was established and a lumber yard opened by Rice, Fleck & Co. During that year there were almost fifty buildings under course of erection in Marvsville. The above firm made large additions to their plant in order to attend to these many building operations. The plant covered four lots and had a frontage of two hundred and sixty-four feet. Fifteen men were usually employed at this mill, and at times twenty-five. The first capital was limited, and the first year's sales amounted to only seven thousand dollars.

In 1878 the ^Iarys\-ille Gas Light Company was formed with a capital of twentx' thousand dollars, but it was ne\'er operated and no plant ever materialized.

The Alarysville Butter Tub and Spoke Factory Company was incorporated in July, 1874, with a capital of fifty thousand dollars in hundred dollar shares. The incorporators were W. W. Woods, A. S. Chapman, A. B. Robinson, C. S. Chapman, D. D. Shearer, A. C. Pierson, Philip Snider, J. B. \\nielply and W. H. Robinson. They made tubs, buckets, pails, and firkins for packing butter, etc. In the spring of 1880 the old company SLild to W. F. Wilcox & Co. The death of Air. Woods was the real cause of the original company dissolving.

One of the most extensive furniture factories in central Ohio was established at Marysville in 1892 by the John Rausch Manufacturing Company. They made kitchen cabinets, chums and many other domestic articles, tides.

Early in the nineties the Isaac Half Furniture Company operated here, but in 1893 mo\-ed to Circleville, where they had obtained a bonus. Mr. Half had been in the same business here in the se\-enties. At Circleville he failed in business.

The well-known factor}' enterprise of C. F. Lentz & Sons, makers of superior butter tubs and tool handles, burned April 24, 1901. Their loss of ten thousand dollars was partly covered by insurance amounting to four thousand five hundred dollars. It was the chief industr}' of the city, employing fifty men with a pay roll of fi\-e hundred dollars weekly. At the time of the fire, the compan\- was thirt\' thousand tul)s liehind their orders. Aided bv the Ijoard of trade of Mar\sville, the ]:)lant was at once rebuilt and business resumed.

In 1895 the brick business had taken on large proportions here. The central figure in this industry was Philip Burns, who had a large brick yard on the Wea\er road, just to the south of the city. During that .season he made two milliun brick, with wliich two villages were re-built, Aliltord Center and North Lewisburg", besides the brick for the Methodist Episcopal clunxh in Marysville.

A chair factory was established in April, 1892, with a capital of fifteen thousand dollars, to manufacture a patent office chair, the invention of Charles Davis of this count}'. Office, t}'pewriter, piano and other chairs are produced after this patent and find a ready sale all o\er the world. The departments at Washington and in \arious state houses use these office chairs, which are of the eas_\' spring-back type. It is the onlv place in the country where the Davis chair is made.

The ]\Iarys\-ille Creamery took the first prize on butter at the Pan- American Exposition in Buffalo in u;oi. The butter exhibited stood ninety-se\en per cent, in its markings.

The city of Marys\-ille \-oted bonds to the amount of fifty thousand dollars, September. 1900, to aid in securing manufacturing industries fur the city. The vote on that question stood 641 for and 476 against. Among the first results of this was the securing of the Admiral Lamp Companv and the iron foundr}- and machine shops which came here from Basil, Ohio.

The AIarys\'ille W ire Eence & Lumber Compan\' was incorporated in 1906, being an outgrowth oi the Plate & Fry nnll. At first the firm was known as the Alarysville Lumber Company, Ijut in 1909 the wire fence department was added and the company took its present name. All kinds of luml>er are handled, and mill work of e\'erv kind is turned out in their well equi])|>ed factor)-. The wire fence factor\' has a dail\- capacitx' of twelve hundred rods. The firm also manufactures cement blocks. More than thirty men are employed all the time. AA . P. O'Brien is manager and Fred J. Auer is assistant manager.

The Marys\ille Cabinet Company was formed from the Ivausch Manufacturing Company, and was incorporated under its present name in 1903. They manufacture bank, store and office fixtures, kitchen cabinets, cuv>- boards, tables and various other kinds of furnitinx. Their ])nsiness now amounts to more than one hundred thousand dollars annually.

The Marysx'ille Hay, Feed & Fuel Company started in business on April 4, 1910, by purchasing the business of J. A. Schott. .\t the jiresent time the company ships nearlv a thousand cars of baled ha}' and straw annnall}-. The company have a baler in connection with their plant with a daily capacity of thirty tons. The company also has a thriving branch at Ravmond.

The Perfect Cigar Company was organized by C. C. Perfect and now manufactures live thousand cigars daily. Twenty-five cigarmakers are given employment in the factory.

The Union Bottling Works were established by Edward L. Dillon and E. H. Keller and has a daily capacity of two hundred cases of soft drinks.

The United States Brass Company was established here in 19 12 and has turned out many hundreds of tons of superior brass castings for general manufacturing purposes.

The hoop mill of Peel Brothers was established here in September, 1907. It liurned later, but was rebuilt on a larger scale. Here are made train loads of elm hoops known as slack barrel and keg hoops. Forty to sixty men are employed in this single industry. The material used is chiefly elm from the forests of Union county.

E. G. Adams, of Jerome township, invented a corn husking machine, which has proved a success and finds a sale in every part of the great corn growing belt of this countiy and foreign lands. A stock company was formed and a factory put in operation for assembling the various parts which have teen made in other cities. The plant sufi^ered a loss by fire but again got on its feet and is now one of the paying industries of the city. This is said to be one of the best corn buskers or shredders in use. Jobbers of farm implements all over the country take them in large invoices. They retail at one hundred and fifty dollars.

What was known as the Foerster Cigar Company was established here in 1910, in the Gray cement building. The company employed scores of girls, but after a short time the concern was removed to Cohmibus.

"Uncle Joe" Cooper, a shoemaker, ninety-two years of age, born in 1 816 in Virginia, commenced shoemaking at the age of sixteen years, and in 1907 had worked at his trade seventy years and was still "pegging away." He boasted of 'having made fine calf boots for Presidents Andrew Jack- Alartin Van Buren, Stonewall Jackson, Gen ^Yinfield Scott, Gen. Houston and old Santa Anna.

In 1907 Man'sville had a man in the cigar making business who had fnjiowed it for fifty-four years and was the oldest business man in I^Iarysville at the time. He formerly made seven hundred cigars a day and 'n later years averaged three hundred. He was then seventy-three years of age.

goods, mail bcixes, aiul a liundred and one useful devices, which the\' sell all over the United States by tra\-eling salesman. l''or a time they made a patent windnw and diKjr screen with metal frames. Idiey do a large business and hel]j swell the weekly ]>ay mil in AIarys\ille. The company is largely made u]) of home cai)italists. C. C. Armstrong is the manager. Their plant occupies more than j 10,000 stpiare feet of floor space, and em- ]3loyes from forty to fifty men. In 1910 they s(jld their interests in the window and door frame business and it was mo\'ed to Chicago.

The Robinson & Curr\- Company commenced in a modest \va_\' in 1883 in the old handle factor\-. The originators of the business were \V. C. !'\illington, C. L. Robinson, Col. \\'. L. Curry, Col. William AI. Liggett, all of whom remained imtil 1891 when it was incor]X)rated with W. C. b'ullington as president. E. G. AlcCann is the general manager. The institution has grown to immense proportions and now ranks among the highest of any in central Ohio. Their manufactured products go all over the eastern and central part of the United States. They have furnished numerous government buildings with their hard wood finishings. They have plants on both the Big J'our and Toledo & Ohio Central railways at Marysville. Tliey ha\'e sheds capable of holding seventy-five car loads of materials. They make a specialty of doing work from architects' plans and specifications.

Perhai)s the largest industry of Marysville is its condensed milk factorv. 'Idiis is the home of the popular brand known as "Every-day" e\aporated milk, and is made b\- the John W'ildi Evaporated Milk Company, established here in Octol)er, 1907, Ijy John \Vildi, who had ojierated a large concern in Illinois before coming here. The company purchased se\'en acres of land in Octol>er, 1907, when it was a branch of the great "liehetia " factory of Illinois, ddie plant is situated in the southwestern ])art of Alarys- \ille, ou the Big Eour railwav tracks. 1'he first building was two hundred 1)\' foiu" hundred feet, all of fine brick. Work was begun on the factory in Octolier, 1907, and since then man\' ;idditions and improvements lia\e been made. 1lie plant was ojxMied for business in June, 1908, when fort)' l^eople were em])loyed. .\t first tlie\- used ten thousand pounds of milk daily, but had a cajxicit}- for handling one hundred and fifty thousan<l pounds. They ha\'e their own water and light ])lants. In .\ugust, 1908, thev ])aid farmers one dollar and twenty-fi\'e cents ])er hundred weight for milk, which was mostly froiu Union count}- dairies. In Ma_\', i<)io, the ])ayroll of this factory was $15,000 monthly and they jjaid to si.\ hundred farmers $12,000 for fifty thousand pounds daily. In 1914 llie\' shipped ou.t two car loads dailv of canned milk, each case and can marked "'Made in r^larvsville." Tliev also make their own tin cans by a unique machine process. This has now grown to be recognized as one of the most prodigous plants tor exaporating milk in the world - at least fully equal to any.

Makysville Postoffice

The ]\Iarysville postoffice was established ]\Iarch 28, 1823. and there ha\'e onl}- been seventeen postmasters in the ninety-two years of the e.xistence of the office, or a fraction more than fi\-e years ax'erage for each. The list is as follows :

The office is now in the second class, having been made such July i, 1003. It has been kept in its present quarters since July i, 1909. The statement recentl}' issued shows the amount of savings deposits on December 4, 1914, to ha\e been two thousand iowx hundred dollars. The business transacted for the last year, ending Jul}- first, was $15,004.97. There are now si.x rural routes extending out from this office. The cit\" deli\"ery was establislied Xovember 16, 1909; there are four deli\-eries in the business districts and two in residence sections, each day, except Sunday, when there is no delivery. There are ten incoming" and nine outgoing mails daily, except Sunday when there is one incoming and one outgoing" mail.

The history, in detail, of the numerous churches antl lodges of Marysville. has been given in chapters on such topics, and embraces all within the counl\-, hence here it unh' neeii be said that at Mar\'s\'ille the churches represented are : The Congregational, the Methodist Episcopal, the Presbyterian, the Catholic, the Lutheran, the Episcopal, the colored Methodist Episcopal.

The lodges consist of the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of P_\-thias. Woodmen of the \\'orld, \\'oodmen of America, the ^Liccahees, Improved Order of Red Men and Benevolent Protecti^-e Order Elks.

Improved Order Of Red Men

The Improved Order of Red IMen, No. 94, was organized at Marysville, Februaiy i, 1905. It now has aljout fifty members. The present officers are : Sachem, Albert Carr : senior sagamore, C. P. Beightler ; prophet, L. P. Shaw: chief of records, J. L. Richey: keeper of wampum, S. D. Boyd: guard of forest, C. Wilcox. The present representative to the great council of the state of Ohio is W. H. Sheneman : the alternate is W. W. Shol)er.

Knights Of The Maccabees

Tent No. 247, at ]\Iarysville, has a membership of about one liundred antl hftv-hve. They meet in a hall over the ^Marysville Bank. L. .\. La- Dow is record keeper and Clarence Clapham is commander. There is also a ladies auxiliary.

The Benevolent And Protective Order Of Elks

The Mar\s\'ille lodge has a membership of about seventy-five. Their hall is in the Union block. The 191 5 officers are as follows: J. H. Schoneberger. exalted ruler : Chester Rosette, esteemed loyal knight ; Clinton Croy, esteemed leading knight ; Alorey liggett, esteemed lecturing knight ; F. AI. Demorest, secretary; Clayton Jarvis, esquire: W. P. O'Brien, inside guard; W. P. Peppard, chaplain : Fred Ell, tyler ; W. F. Brodrick, treasurer.

In a paper read before the Pioneer Association in 1894, Hylas Sabine, (if Maiysville, said in substance: "It is fifty years since I saw something of a circulating library that had been for a long time used at Milford Center. It was a surprise then, and is to me now, as I was delighted with the solid (jualitx- of the books. Of the few remaining at that time I noticed the Federalist, the Letters of John Ouinn, The Spectator, Goldsmith and other works of that ilk. The organized library dated before the organization of L'nion county. It was led in the work by the old Connecticut Colony that settled the southern portion of this county. Andrew Keys, now in his nineties, is the only man now living who can give any account of this ancient Union county library. I well recall the early library of James A. Curiy, Esq., to which I was kindly invited by that gentleman. I accepted and for hours he sat before me explaining this book and that. He was well versed with the contents of every volume he possessed. His thorough knowledge of the books and his great knowledge in the histor\- of the country was surprising to me. I do not know where to go today to meet with such a devotee of good books. His books were free to the use of his neighbors. He heartily invited me to take such of the books as interested me most."

The school board took up the matter of library interests many years ago, and have worked in conjunction with other citizens of the place. Finally correspondence was begun with Andrew Carnegie, the greatest library founder in all the world, which in time resulted in his donating the sum of ten tliousand dollars toward the library interests of Marysville. The date of this donation was January, 1909, the same being made with the public school board of this city. The building was placed on the northeast comer of the West school grounds, and the cornerstone was laid with ceremonies, lulv 3, 1909. When the dedication took place a liberal donation was furnished in the person of that grand character, Hon. R. L. Woodburn, who gave his own large law library, and cash to tlie amonnt of seven hundred and fifty dollars to be expended in the purchase of histories, especially those pertaining to the great wars of this country. This section is by itself and is named "The Robert L. W'oodburn Memorial Library." The present number uf volumes in the library is about five thousand. The present num- ])er of i)eriodicals and papers is twenty-three. The present officers of the library boards are as follows: James McCami)bell, president; L. B. Demorest, vice-president; H. J. Nichol, treasurer; Christine Houston, secretar\- ; other niemljers are Elizabeth M. W'ood, (George C. Whitne\- and Harriet G. Scott. The librarian is Lillian Robb.

The City Hall

In the month of August, 1864, the city purchased property at the southeast corner of Alain and South streets, on which to erect a city building. In 1877 it was voted to erect a city hall. The buildings i:)n the site were torn away and work was commenced in the fall of 1877, and finished in the spring of 1878. Its contract price was $12,495. -^ Seth Thomas clock of the eight-flay tj-pe was purchased and suspended in the high tower su.rmounting the l)uilding. It cost almost a thousand dollars and the weight of its bell was a half ton. The city building was supplied with a steam heatingplant and its walls fineh- frescoed. The hall was opened tci the public. October J I. 1878, when the drama "Two Orphans" was presented by home talent. Tlie total cost of the building and fi.xtures was about $13,200. At the da\- it was built it was designed for council chamber, fire department, jail, public librar_\- and ma_\-or"s office. In 1908 the structure showed signs of weakness, and finally it was c<:indemned by the authorities as unsafe, and closetl as a public hall. Experts looked it o\er, and errors in construction were corrected and man}- impnnen-ients were made on the propertx', niaking it safe and creditable to the city.

The first light and water plant was situated on South Plum street, near the Big Four railroad tracks. It was comn-ienced in March, 1888. It is a private company operating under a franchise of the city. It first lighted the business streets with five arc lamps in No\-ember. 1888. The electric light and water works merged and a cc)mpanv was formed b\- Jolm E. Zwerner, Walter C. Eullington, George M. McPeck and Jerome E. Davis.

The people voted on a water plant proposition and it carried. There were then seven miles of mains put in on various streets and seventy-five street hydrants. The company was incorporated January i, 1890. Januar)' 8, 1891, the electric light plant was removed from Plum street to its present location north of the city proper and Mill creek was dammed for reservoir purposes in case of emergency. A 320-horse-power engine was procured and there were soon in operation about seven thousand lights in the city and power was being furnished to numerous factories and offices. There are now over nine miles of water mains and eighty-eight hvdrants. Water is fimiisbed from a one hundred and forty-seven foot well. It is excellent water, and is the same as was formerly known as tlie "magnetic spring water." The capacity of the works is one million, five hundred thousand gallons daily. In the autumn of 1903 an ice plant was added; this has a daily capacity of ten tons of pure distilled water ice. This plant commenced to produce ice in the spring of 1904.

Eighty-se\'en years ago, or in 1828, Independence Dav was first observed at Marysville by the little settlement of patriotic citizens. How it was observed is best told In' reference to an article on the subject, published in the Alarysville Tribune July 10, 1878, which reads as follows:

"The first Fourth of July e\'er celebrated in Marysville was in 1828. The surrounding country was at that time a wilderness indeed, and jMarys- \ille was an insignificant point with apparently no future other than an obscure village. There were only seven families residing in it, viz : Silas G. -Strong, XewtDU Hicks, George Snodgrass, Stephen McLain, George Winters, Daniel iXIiller and a widow Kiger - making, with their families, a population (if aljout twenty. It was customary in all Fourth of July celebratiiins in almost every part of the country to get up a big dinner, and all who could raise enough money to pay considered it a patriotic duty to partake. I^ncle George Snodgrass and Aunt Hannah, who were married the February before, got up the dinner for the pioneer celebration. The place where it was served was in the woods on the next lot west of that on which Judge Woijds' residence later stood, and on the spot where his grape arbor was jilantetl. Silas G. Strong owned the lot on which Mr. Woods" residence was subsef|uentl\' located. He bad a log house erected on it in which Uncle George and .\unt Hannah kept hotel. This was the first hotel ever opened in the village and Air. Strong and wife boarded with them. .About seven- ty-five persons sat down to tlie table, each paying seventy-five cents for the repast. A Mr. Hubbel had a sliort time previous carted a few goods from Spring-field to this point, and the groceries needed for the occasion were i)urchased of him. The dishes to set the table were obtained in Milford Center, there nut being enough in thi^ \illage and surrounding countrx- to furnish the table. The cherries, currants and vegetables were jjurchased of Anson Howard, who resided south of Woodstock, on the farm later owned by his son Pearl Howard. The speakers for the occasion were James Biggs and John H. James, the latter still li\ing and a resident of Urbana, Ohio. Toasts were given (but were not drank in 'old rye,' as was not infrequentlv the case in that day ) and responses were made at the table - a custom that has almost entirely died out. In the intcr\als lietween the reading of the toasts, a cannon was fired, or in lieu of a cmnon, a few rifles answered, and the patriotic crowd would add to the ferx'or b\- heart}' hurrahs. .V few are still li\ing who were guests at that h^iurth of Jul}' tlinner."

July Fourth, 1898, was a red-letter day for Union countv and Alarvs- \-ille. It was celebrated in all that could lie thought interesting and \'alual)le t(.) its citizens. One hundred years before that date the county was first settled by white men. The ])resi(lent of the day was Hon. V. T. Arthur, and the orator for the occasion was one of the county's honored sons - Hon. Charles W. Fairbanks, later \ice-president and Cnited .States senator from Indiana. The sujierli music was in charge of the pioneer musician. Prof O. H. Evans and the celebrated Marysville Choral Club. Other features of the day included a timely speech by Samuel A. Hudson on "L'uion County Statistics"; an address "Our Soldiers" b}- Col. W". L. Curr\' ; an 'address on "Our County's Growth" by Robert McCrory. Xo such .-ittendavice lias e\'er lieen seen at ]\Iarysville : ])eople came from all (jver the countv ami from distant counties and some from other states.

Old Home Week

This hai)])y thought took root in the nnnds of the citizens of Marysxille in J 003. when the first gathering of people who had li\ed here but long sii removed to distatit parts of the country took place. Twenty thciusand ])eo l)le were ])resent on this occasion. The chief speaker was e.x-\'ice-Presi dent Charles \\'. Fairljanks. Page after page in the local press for week: before this gathering was fiUed with brief notices of acceptance on the part oi hundreds of men and women residing in all parts of this country all telling of the pleasure they anticipated in returning to their old home in L'nion countv, Ohio. The citizens of Marysville treated their honored guests in a roval and trul>- hospitable manner.

State Reformatory For Women

An act was passed in the Ohio Legislature in 191 1 creating a reformatory for women to be located at Marysville. Construction commenced the following year. The buildings are finished, and have cost the state $290,- 000. The present Ixiildings only represent a part of a series of the same kind to be added later.

In connection with the receiving and correctional building are a number of special service departments which are of sufficient capacity to accommodate the demand for a much larger number of inmates than can be housed in the buildings now erected, which only provides for one hundred persons. It is expected that sufficient proxisions will be made to accommodate at least five hundred women. The extra capacity will be provided by cottages accommodating about thirty-five each. These will be arranged so as to give ])lentv of space about each building. When completed the institution will ha\e the appearance of a small village. The institution is located about two and a half miles southwest of the city of Marysville.

In 1886-87 there was a natural gas excitement at Marysville. A company was engaged to sink a deep well, which resulted in striking a strong mineral water, of saline and magnesia elements. It flowed twelve thousand barrels daily, and was utilized for bath house purposes for a number of vears. j\Iany cures were effected by drinking and bathing in the waters. .-M)out that time another big gusher of a well was struck at Richwood, the water being also mineral and curative and used for that purjwse, too.

"The last log cabin in Marys\-ille will be torn down this week (Jmie, 1888). It stands on the corner of Si.xth and Oak streets and belongs to Mrs. John Fogarty. It was bui't in the very earliest days of Marysville village and has withstood the storms of more than half a century. It is the last pioneer hut to give way and we feel like taking off our hat to its dejjarting ghost." - John H. Sliearer in Tribune.

After a successful ser\-ice of many years, the S. N. McCloud Magnetic Springs and Bottling Works burned at the supposed hand of an incendiary in October, 1899. The loss was four thousand dollars.

A Keeley Institute was operated in this city for nianv x'ears and cured hundreds of the awful drink habit. It was moved to Columbus in 1896 and two years later went into the hands of a receiver.